QUEENSFERRY CARE NEWSLETTER Supporting older people and their carers in , Kirkliston, , Newbridge, &

Day Care continues…at Home

We are delighted to share that Queensferry Care successfully applied for a variation to our Care Inspectorate registration to be able to support people at home.

Since Monday 17 August the day care team have been providing a ‘Day Care at Home’ service. 96% of our current day care members, when asked by the day care team, said they would really value a home visiting service. Day Care at Home provides the same, wide range of activities people would enjoy whilst at The Haven, and we have some new activities too. Day care members are able to choose what happens during our visit, and have been enjoying dominoes, cards, crafts, crosswords, seated exercises, gardening, baking, walks around the local area, or just enjoying the company and having a chat. Day Care at Home also gives family members and carers the opportunity to have a break.

“The ladies who look after me Keep up the good are brilliant. We have a great work, you and your time and I especially love colleagues are heroes! playing scrabble – more so if I win. I am so pleased and happy that Aileen can come This is a new way of and visit me every week. It working for us, and we will makes such a difference. It continue to adapt and really cheers me and the develop this service budgie up. You can see Peter in together with our day care the picture, he is such a wee members and/or their blether, and I love having him to family members. talk to. Peter especially likes eating my crisps, annoying my husband and having a bath.”

Web www.qccc.org.uk Email [email protected] Tel 0131 331 5570 Charity No SC021833 NEWS AND EVENTS

Ferry The Trishaw comes to town!

Queensferry Care, supported by the Rotary Club of South Queensferry, has recently taken delivery of ‘Ferry’ our very own community trishaw!

QCCC are proud to be working in partnership with Cycling Without Age to provide a very different experience to people (not just older people, but people of any age) with additional support needs in South Queensferry and surrounding areas.

Seven enthusiastic volunteers undertook initial training on 10 October 2020. Gillian, one of the volunteers said “we are all out practicing so that we can take our first passengers. We are definitely attracting people’s attention, so hopefully people will give it a go. All the volunteers are researching possible local routes which avoid too many hills and have a café at some point on the journey!”

Golf Tournament 2020

Queensferry Care, in partnership with the Rotary Club of South Queensferry were delighted to be able to proceed with our Covid safe Golf Tournament on 21st September.

14 Teams took part in the event on a sunny, but windy Monday and the competition was fierce! Everybody enjoyed the day and our sincere thanks go to all the teams Between entries and the online raffle, the event and our many sponsors for ensuring that raised an amazing £2,775 in vital funds for day was a great success. £ Queensferry Care.

Supper Club with a difference

Supper Club had to pause at the end of March, but we have kept in regular touch over the phone. John, the Supper Club Coordinator and team delivered delicious cream teas to all the Supper Club members and he commented “it was lovely getting out and actually seeing folk again”.

We have been busy planning a way forward until normal service can be resumed. We hope, that with physical distancing measures in place, we can safely invite two couples at a time to enjoy a ‘mini’ Supper Club experience. We are excited for this service to start early in 2021, but in the meantime we look forward to delivering a fish supper or afternoon tea to members.

Supporting older people and their carers in the communities of North-West CARE IN THE COMMUNITY

A Message from the Chair of the Board of Directors

When I consider the immense challenges the charity has faced in 2020, I cannot begin to explain the pride I have for a team of compassionate, talented and driven people of which I find myself fortunate to lead.

This year has given me a greater insight into the challenges faced daily by many of our supporters and service users. Even before the pandemic, many faced similar environments of isolation and limited social interaction. Given my own experiences in the past months it is heart-breaking to think this is a day to day reality for some of the most vulnerable people in our communities.

These experiences highlight the importance of our charity’s work given that we exist solely to enrich the lives of all people in our communities.

To the most vulnerable people in our communities we offer comfort, solace, friendship, & camaraderie.

Often, we might be the only support an unpaid carer gets in helping their loved ones. We might be the only conversation that someone has all day or even all week. We might be the only chance someone has to get out of their house and into the fresh air. We might even be the only chance someone gets to enjoy a cup of tea and a chat.

This is something we have been doing for 25 years but many do not even know we exist, providing vital lifeline services in local communities, possibly even to people you know. Could you take a moment to help us raise awareness? Could you tell at least one other person about Queensferry Care and the services we provide.

In times of crisis it is natural for people to want to help and you can help, it is in all of us to be able to make a difference each and every day.

● That trip to the shop, does your neighbour need anything? ● That hot meal you make for your family, can you stretch it to feed one more? ● That 20 minutes playing on your phone, can you pick it up and connect with someone who cannot be with anyone else? “Mum had great fun as If you would like to find out more about how you can support usual but apparently they us, please get in touch. played the game all wrong which made them It is time for change, so be part of that change and help us to laugh even more. Mum enrich the lives of people in our community not just today but also tomorrow. loves her Wednesday visits. Think secretively Thank you my dad does too. Thank Andrew you for all that you do.”

Andrew Burton Chair of the Board of Directors Queensferry Churches’ Care in the Community

South Queensferry, Ratho, Ratho Station, Newbridge, Kirkliston and Dalmeny GET INVOLVED

Volunteering - It’s good to talk Fundraising for Queensferry Care Unfortunately face to face volunteering stopped abruptly in March. This affected our day care, befriending, reception, lunch club, gardening Queensferry Care has and driving volunteers. Many volunteers offered to support people by been supporting older providing a regular phone call, looking out for neighbours or using their people and their carers, in talent to make face masks and bags to allow uniforms to go straight in to the communities of North a washing machine and so much more. Fortunately the befriending West Edinburgh, to lead service was able to adapt quickly and made the change from face to the very best lives possible face home visits to either a phone call or writing a letter. for more than 25 years. We offer a range of vital During the warmer services, currently months it was possible including day care at for befrienders to visit home, telephone befriendees in their befriending and supper garden or have a chat The days are so long, club – reducing isolation through the window. I enjoy the chat and it 6 communities and providing regular An opportunity to meet breaks up the day engaged support to those in safely was enjoyed by greatest need. all. 25 years of caring Like so many other Winter has its own challenges and combined 90 people deserving causes, we are with the continuing restrictions, there are supported each very reliant on fundraising many older people who would benefit from a week to ensure we can offer friendly voice on the phone or receiving a services which really make chatty letter, if this is something you could do, 200 hours of support a difference. please contact Lorna for more information at each week [email protected] Now, more than ever, your support would really help us….If you are If you would like to support Queensferry interested in raising money for us or even Care, you can do so in the following ways: organising your own event, we would love to hear from you and help Volunteer Email [email protected] for more information you!

Online Donations can be made at For more information or to www.justgiving.com/queensferrycare have a chat, please contact Sue Hope, Cheque Made payable to Queensferry Churches’ Care in the Fundraising Manager Community Email Fundraise Host or help organise a fundraising event [email protected]

Legacy Find out more about leaving a gift to Queensferry Care Tel in your will 07702 812987

Social Like, share and comment on our social media posts to help raise awareness @Welcome QCCC @QueensferryCare @queensferrycare

Registered Office: Company limited by guarantee registered in The Haven, 25B Burgess Road, South Queensferry EH 30 9JA company No. SC 210822 Scottish Charity No SC 021833